Shalom all,

The number of IDF deaths since the beginning of the ground offensive has now reached 235. The total number of IDF deaths since October 7th stands at 572. The number of hostages still held by Hamas and other terrorists is estimated at around 130, without knowing who and how many, are still alive.

A Spirit of delusion has taken hold of the United States leadership, along with a number of Arab countries. That fantasy relates to the push for the establishment of a “Palestinian” state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. It is difficult to state with exactitude how many nations genuinely believe that such a step will actually be the catalyst for peace in the Middle East. If we listen to U.S. President Joe Biden and his team, one might actually think that they truly believe in the nonsense that they are espousing. And these actors are moving forward with their plans, which are doomed to failure – or worse, regional war. There are a multitude of reasons why such behind-the-scenes political maneuvering will not succeed. But, the paramount reason is because their discussions do not include Israel! As one journalist expressed it: “The Biden administration’s dogged focus on creating a Palestinian state is ‘obtuse’ and ‘delusional’.”

In his article in “the Algemeiner” yesterday, columnist Jack Elbaum reported that the U.S., along with Jordan and Egypt, together with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates are “quickly working to form a plan to end the Israel-Hamas war and create a Palestinian state. The first step of such a plan would be for Israel and Hamas to agree to a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the Israeli hostages. Then, during that pause in fighting, the U.S. and its Arab partners would announce the plan and start to form an interim Palestinian government.”  

Let’s look at the Arab countries listed as “partners” with the U.S.: Jordan and Egypt both have peace agreements with Israel, but have been strongly outspoken against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. Egypt refuses to allow Gaza residents to cross into its territory, being clearly concerned that Hamas terrorists will join the mixed multitude and wreak havoc in Egypt in due course, as they have in Gaza. Qatar has been a major financial supporter of Hamas and somehow has managed to become the major mediator in the talks between Israel and Hamas – a fact that remains difficult to comprehend. Pakistan issues passports that contain a statement that they are valid for everywhere in the world, with the notation “except Israel”. The United Arab Emirates was the first to sign the Abraham Accords with Israel, but those accords are primarily for economic interests. It never became an “ally” of Israel.

Those countries are talking and making plans behind Israel’s back. They are Biden’s “Arab partners” in the Don Quixote quest of charging at windmills in the totally misguided and, in some instances, intentional goal of dismembering the State of Israel from within, by the establishment of a so-called “Palestinian” state in the heartland of Israel. In choosing to move forward with his “Arab partners”, Biden and his team of spokespersons, have single-handedly written off the “unbreakable bond” that existed between the U.S. and Israel, until October 7, 2023. 

In a  lengthy telephone conversation between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden expressed his view that Israel should not pursue its military operation in Rafah (Rafiah), without developing an executable plan to provide for the safety of the civilians there. That this is a political decision for the benefit of Bidenik politics is without question. He calls Israel the friend of the U.S., but his actions are for his own benefit. The concern that has been expressed over and over again by U.S. representatives is for the civilian population and for the number of non-combatant casualties in the Gaza enclave. Somewhere along the line, the unfathomable atrocities that were committed on Black Saturday in Israel have been cast aside for political expediency, along with the fact that the multitudes of civilians in Gaza cheered the successes of Hamas, which was their leadership of choice. It has been revealed and reported over and over that Gazan civilians, including dozens of UNRWA employees, actively participated in the bloody assault. War is hell and people die, some justifiably and intentionally, while others, who are not active combatants, become casualties of war.

The Bideniks, all politicians of one sort or another and from one country or another, have conveniently ignored their own actions in the war against Germany and its allies in World War II. In a war that lasted for years (not just 4-1/2 months like the Gaza War), the Allied forces, that included the U.S. and Great Britain, conducted bombing raids against the City of Dresden that almost completely destroyed the city. According to Britannica :

“During World War II, Allied bombing raids on February 13–15, 1945… almost completely destroyed the German city of Dresden. The raids became a symbol of the “terror bombing” campaign against Germany, which was one of the most controversial Allied actions of the war.

“Throughout the war, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had called for increased British air raids against the population centres of Germany [my emphasis] in order to swamp German authorities and services, particularly transportation, with hordes of refugees. As the Allied forces closed in on the Third Reich in 1945, such targets became more feasible because of the air superiority and improved navigation techniques of the Anglo-American bomber force.

“Before World War II, Dresden was called ‘Florence on the Elbe’ and was considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities because of its architecture and art treasures. Having never previously been attacked in the war, the city offered increased value for terror bombing against an inexperienced population. On the night of February 13, the British Bomber Command hit Dresden with an 800-bomber air raid, dropping some 2,700 tons of bombs, including large numbers of incendiaries. Aided by weather conditions, a firestorm developed, incinerating tens of thousands of people. The U.S. Eighth Air Force followed the next day with another 400 tons of bombs and carried out yet another raid by 210 bombers on February 15. It is thought that some 25,000–35,000 civilians died in Dresden in the air attacks, though some estimates are as high as 250,000, given the influx of undocumented refugees that had fled to Dresden from the Eastern Front [my emphasis]. Most of the victims were women, children, and the elderly….

“Given the high number of civilian casualties and the relatively few strategic targets, some even called the bombing of Dresden a war crime, though both the British and the American militaries defended the bombing as necessary [my emphasis].

The goal of the Allies was to bring about an end to the war. Israel’s goal is not any different. While the Allies intentionally targeted “population centers”, Israel makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties. But, that becomes a gargantuan challenge, when seeking out an enemy that hides in civilian population centers and uses every type of civilian facility as a location from which to conduct its terrorist operations, even using the civilians themselves as human shields. Enough is enough. Israel has been engaged in military conflicts since its establishment as a State. It has compromised time and time again, entering into multiple agreements with its enemies, only to find itself attacked over and over again. This present war has created serious divisions within Israeli society. But, a recent poll taken by Channel 13, a major television station here, revealed that most of the Israelis polled are in favor of removing Hamas leadership from Gaza, even if it means not having the hostages returned. The question asked was (free translation from Hebrew): 

“Suppose that Israel’s leaders come to the conclusion that they have only the two following options, when of them, in your opinion, should be chosen? –  (choices):

The hostages should be returned and Hamas will remain in control of Gaza = 25%-  

The hostages will not be returned, and Hamas will lose its control in Gaza = 47%-  

Can’t reply” = 28%”

Why should the United States and Great Britain and their other allies be allowed to defend themselves against an aggressor that was determined to dominate the world, but minuscule Israel is denied that right against an aggressor that seeks to eliminate its very existence? Is the dependence on U.S. aid a justifiable reason for the Bideniks to dictate to Israel not to pursue military action in Rafiah – the last, remaining Hamas stronghold, and to set a timetable to end the Gaza War before the onset of the Muslim feast of Ramadan? Setting a timetable in a war, particularly this war, is not only an exercise in futility, but an indication that those who make such a decision are removed from realities on the ground and live on fantasy island. Is the U.S. abandoning Israel at a time when it looks to its alleged ally that is powerful enough to say “no” to resolutions against Israel in the U.N. Security Council? The evil of politics is found in the politicians that make decisions that have far-reaching consequences. The failure to pay attention to what is readily visible and the failure or refusal to learn from present-day events will inevitably result in a repetition of them. Those who close their eyes and ears will end up with a rude awakening.

The Dry Bones Blog – 14 February, 2024 <blog@mrdrybones.com>

As if the talks of establishing a “Palestinian” state were not difficult enough, according an article in the Washington Post, “One Arab official said Hamas’s political wing should be included in the talks, if not in the future government. ‘We need someone there who represents them to ensure they’re on board with this…If not, and they’re not happy about it, we will have Fatah and Hamas all over again’, the official said, referring to earlier confrontations between the two Palestinian groups that ultimately led to Hamas’s election as the governing power in Gaza. But if they can achieve two years of stability and prosperity under a revitalized government…’no one will choose Hamas’ at the ballot box.” Fatah and Hamas agreeing for two years? They can’t even agree for two hours. Such a proposition will never be accepted by Israel. It recognizes the power that Hamas exerts and it is that very power that this present war is being fought to eliminate. 

Following his telephone conversation with President Biden, P.M. Netanyahu wrote in his “X” (formerly Twitter) account (translated from Hebrew): “Israel outright rejects international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the “Palestinians”. Such an arrangement will be reached only through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions. Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a “Palestinian” state. Such recognition in the wake of the October 7 massacre would give a huge reward to unprecedented terrorism and prevent any future peace settlement.” Whether or not Israel will ever agree to a “future peace settlement” that will allow for the establishment of a “Palestinian” state as planned by the U.S. and its “partners” is doubtful. In any event, such a plan is doomed to failure because it is premised on the survival of Hamas and the involvement of Qatar. What is not doubtful, however, is that even the planning of such a move by the U.S. is nothing short of a betrayal of its friend and ally, Israel. As the situation has developed to this time, it is clear that Israel cannot, and should not, be dependent on any foreign government for its existence. Our leaders need to decide what is in our best interest, not the interest of any other government or nation or even the re-election of someone who once called Israel his friend. 

Israel wants to end the Gaza War. It has other issues that need to be dealt with. Hassan Nasrallah, the General Secretary of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, delivered a speech yesterday at a ceremony honoring the “martyrs” – as he referred to them, who were killed in a retaliatory strike by Israel on terrorist targets. He stated, in part, that Hezbollah’s determination increased as a result of the deaths of ten civilians and that the Hezbollah would increase their “presence, strength, fire [and] anger” and expand their operations and that Israel “must expect that and wait for that.” He added, that if Israel expands the war with Hezbollah, the terrorist group possesses a “huge arsenal” of “precision-guided missiles that can reach everywhere in Israel”.

One more item for prayer. The International Court of Justice (or Injustice – call it what you want) will be considering this coming week whether Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria is “legal”. A decision against Israel would be disastrous. 

If we look at things from a spiritual perspective, as we must, and have our eyes opened, we really have no reason to fear. There are more with us than there are with them. (2 Kings 6:16) Still, a miracle here and there just now wouldn’t hurt.

Have a great week.

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.

Marvin